Despite a chiseled body and mean-mugged glare, the Lexus NX is hardly an athlete. It’s a softly sprung, high-riding SUV in a class of tall wagons, and its cargo- and people-hauling capacities benefit accordingly.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged…
Despite a chiseled body and mean-mugged glare, the Lexus NX is hardly an athlete. It’s a softly sprung, high-riding SUV in a class of tall wagons, and its cargo- and people-hauling capacities benefit accordingly.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is standard, but the NX300h boasts the lineup’s sole hybrid powertrain and gets standard all-wheel drive.
The cabin coddles occupants with comfy seats and distinctive styling. Unfortunately, a finicky touchpad-operated infotainment system spoils an otherwise ergonomic interior.
Introduced as a new model in 2015, the NX carries on through 2016 and into 2017 with few changes. The NX300h hybrid’s front-wheel-drive option has been dropped in favor of standard all-wheel drive.
A new 18-inch wheel design joins the options list, as well as two vibrant new colors—Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0 and Molten Pearl—
The base NX200t comes with a 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic, and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is also available.
The NX doesn’t feel lethargic pulling into traffic, the engine’s power delivery is linear and predictable, and once the turbo kicks in, it’s even peppy. The six-speed automatic, while often slow to shift, changes gears well.
The NX300h’s hybrid powertrain impresses with its smoothness and efficiency, but it reduces the Lexus’s performance, instead focusing on providing a comfortable and quiet daily driver.
In either guise, the NX’s moves don’t jibe with its wild styling, but if comfort and practicality are at the top of your list, it won’t disappoint.
While the NX isn’t as much fun on a twisty road as the BMW X1 or the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, its light steering makes it easy to pilot around town. But its center of gravity is higher than in either of those competitors, lending it a top-heavy feel when cornering.
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